JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — More rain and wind were forecast Wednesday along the Alaskan coast where two tiny villages were decimated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, and officials were scrambling to find shelter for more than 1,500 people driven from their homes.
The weekend storm brought high winds and surf that battered the low-lying Alaska Native communities along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in the southwestern part of the state, nearly 500 miles from Anchorage. At least one person was killed, and two were missing, prompting the Coast Guard to rescue two dozen individuals from homes that had floated out to sea.
Hundreds of displaced individuals found refuge in school shelters, including one without functioning toilets, as a severe weather system followed a prior storm that recently impacted western Alaska.
Kipnuk, with a population of 715, and Kwigillingok, home to 380 residents, were among the hardest-hit areas. Both villages are isolated from the state’s main road system and can only be reached by water or air during this time of year.
Mark Roberts, incident commander from the state emergency management division, described the devastation in Kipnuk as catastrophic during a Tuesday news conference, emphasizing the urgent need for continued support.
Among the evacuees was Brea Paul from Kipnuk, who described witnessing houses float away during the storm. Local residents gathered to discuss their situation, many unsure of when they would reunite with their communities.
Search efforts for missing individuals in Kwigillingok have been halted after one woman was confirmed dead. The storm has left a significant impact, with every home in Kwigillingok reported as damaged and many having drifted from their foundations.
With recovery efforts hampered by the impending winter, officials highlighted the urgency of rebuilding. Rick Thoman, an Alaska climate expert, remarked on the resilience of indigenous communities while acknowledging the overwhelming nature of the destruction.
The storm's intensity was attributed to the warming Pacific Ocean, exacerbated by climate change, illustrating the growing challenges faced by the region. Similar storms in the past have also inflicted damage on western Alaska, highlighting an ongoing struggle against the changing climate.
The weekend storm brought high winds and surf that battered the low-lying Alaska Native communities along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in the southwestern part of the state, nearly 500 miles from Anchorage. At least one person was killed, and two were missing, prompting the Coast Guard to rescue two dozen individuals from homes that had floated out to sea.
Hundreds of displaced individuals found refuge in school shelters, including one without functioning toilets, as a severe weather system followed a prior storm that recently impacted western Alaska.
Kipnuk, with a population of 715, and Kwigillingok, home to 380 residents, were among the hardest-hit areas. Both villages are isolated from the state’s main road system and can only be reached by water or air during this time of year.
Mark Roberts, incident commander from the state emergency management division, described the devastation in Kipnuk as catastrophic during a Tuesday news conference, emphasizing the urgent need for continued support.
Among the evacuees was Brea Paul from Kipnuk, who described witnessing houses float away during the storm. Local residents gathered to discuss their situation, many unsure of when they would reunite with their communities.
Search efforts for missing individuals in Kwigillingok have been halted after one woman was confirmed dead. The storm has left a significant impact, with every home in Kwigillingok reported as damaged and many having drifted from their foundations.
With recovery efforts hampered by the impending winter, officials highlighted the urgency of rebuilding. Rick Thoman, an Alaska climate expert, remarked on the resilience of indigenous communities while acknowledging the overwhelming nature of the destruction.
The storm's intensity was attributed to the warming Pacific Ocean, exacerbated by climate change, illustrating the growing challenges faced by the region. Similar storms in the past have also inflicted damage on western Alaska, highlighting an ongoing struggle against the changing climate.
